Zabaleta told ManC magazine: “The three of us spend a lot of time together, Sergio lives five minutes away.

“It’s great for Carlos, for Sergio, for me. We play together for the national team and I played with them in the youth teams.

“For us it’s a new experience here. Whenever you leave your country you learn a lot of things.

“The opportunity we have in England is making a big impact in our lives. The culture is different, the football is different, we are really enjoying it here. Manchester is one of the best places in the UK.”